148 KEPOKT OF THE No. 3 



Koad between Lots 12 and 13, across Concessions 7 to 10, 2.1 miles was graded 

 this season. The road was cut out last season. 



Eoad betw^een Concessions 8 and 9, across Lots 13 to 29, o^^ miles. This road 

 was cut, grubbed, and burned off this season. 



Road between Concessions 10 and 11, two miles. Lots 19, 20, and 21 were 

 cut and burned this season, and Lots 22, 23, and 24 were graded this season, the 

 cutting having 'been done last season. 



Road along the west and east banks of the Mattawishquia River from the 

 Transcontinental Ry. north across part of Concessions 10, 11 and 12, 214 miles. 

 This road was cut and one half grubbed and burned off and half-mile graded this 

 season. 



A bridge across the Mattawishquia River, north of the Transcontinental Ry., 

 was partly constructed, three rock-lilled piers, abutments and stone approaches have 

 been completed. The river is 100 feet wide. The bridge will be completed in 

 March. The bridge, when completed, will give to the settlers east along the 

 railway access to Hearst. 



Streets in the Village of Hearst. Front and Ninth Streets were regraded 1^/4 

 miles. This was necessary owing to the destructive forest fire which swept over 

 the town, burning out all culverts and corduroy laid last season. 



A trunk sewer was constructed on 9th Street from Front Street south to the 

 Mattawishquia River, a distance of 2,200 feet, also one along George and 10th 

 Streets, 1,320 feet. 



During the months of July and August two forest fires swept over the town of 

 Hearst, destroying all the buildings in the town, except the Transcontinental Ry. 

 station and round-house, a few small shacks, and one cottage. In one of the fires 

 the office and store-house of the Northern Development Branch, constructed last 

 season, including supplies and camp equipment valued at $850 was destroyed. A 

 small building has since been constructed to store supplies in. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS AND GARDEN PLOTS. 



At Groundhog River on the Transcontinental Railway, 50 miles west of the 

 Town of Cochrane, an experimental garden was started. At this point the railway 

 contractors have grown vegetables successfully for the last four or five years. The 

 buildings occupied by the contractors were secured by this Branch and are now 

 used as headquarters for work along the Transcontinental Railway between 

 Cochrane and Hearst. 



About the 1st of May, operations were started by cutting down and clearing 

 off about 5 acres of land adjoining the small garden plot cleared by the railway 

 contractors. The land was heavily timbered with spruce, balm of gilead, poplar 

 and white birch, and is situate along the west bank of the Groundhog River south 

 of the railway rising gradually from the water's edge to a height of about 25 feet. 

 The soil is a rich brown clay and clay loam, overlaid with about six inches of 

 black loam. Plots of Spring wheat, barley oats, peas, potatoes and all kinds of 

 vegetables were put in and ripened well giving a good production. Potatoes were 

 planted at different periods from May 19th to July 1st. The Irish 'Cobbler 

 planted 27th of May ga-ve a yield of 192 bushels per acre; the Early Rose planted 



